A new contact tracing mobile application that will allow ship passengers to accomplish their health declaration upon entering port terminals will be launched next week, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said Saturday.
PPA General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago bared during a virtual press briefing that the contact tracing mobile app “Traze” will be formally launched next week and has been made available online.
Instead of accomplishing a health declaration form in port terminals, passengers will use the mobile app before entering the port facilities. It can be downloaded in application stores online for free, Santiago said.
“Simula sa susunod na linggo ilulunsad na natin yung ating contact-tracing application na co-developed ng PPA kung saan imbes na pipirma o mag-a-accomplish ng paper forms ang ating mga kababayan para sa health declaration, maari na nilang i-download itong contact tracing app na ito bago sila pumasok sa pasilidad ng PPA (We will launch next week this contact-tracing app co-developed by PPA where passengers will no longer need to sign or accomplish paper forms for their health declaration, they can just download the app before entering the facilities),” Santiago said.
He also announced that they will conduct a test-run on PPA’s automated ticketing system next week in terminals in Batangas and Puerto Galera to check its efficiency.
The system allows passengers to secure tickets on automated ticket vending machines in a bid to lessen face-to-face interactions between passengers and port terminal personnel.
Santiago said one-meter physical distancing within the port terminals and PPA offices will still be implemented as well as the strict enforcement of health protocols to prevent the transmission of coronavirus.